Friday, April 2, 2021
Vol. 81, No. 14
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SERVING BETHPAGE, OLD BETHPAGE, AND PLAINVIEW
Outdoor dining to continue in 2021
Pandemic changes school instruction, curriculum BY GARY SIMEONE
Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino, Councilman Lou Imbroto, Councilman Tom Hand, Councilwoman Vicki Walsh, and Town Clerk Rich LaMarca gathered at Craft 387 in Plainview, where officials joined with owner John Kiggins to announce efforts to help the restaurant industry. Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino and members of the Town Board gathered on National “Mom and Pop Business Owners Day” at 387 Bistro & Bar in Plainview to announce that the Town will continue its efforts to boost the restaurant industry by waiving all fees to encourage outdoor dining opportunities through 2021. “We have worked tirelessly since this pandemic began to help local businesses come back safely and effectively,” said Supervisor Saladino. “We cut the red tape, waived fees and allowed for new outdoor dining
options for restaurant patrons, helping owners open safely and successfully. We are pleased to continue with that effort, inviting restaurants to extend their outdoor dining services through 2021 and recoup on their investments of items such as tents, heaters and other coverings.” The Supervisor noted while these investments helped many remain open in some capacity, a survey of New York restaurants late last year indicated that upwards of 60 percent could close without government funded financial assistance. Simultaneously, New York State
released statistics which indicated that bars and restaurants account for only 1.4 percent of new statewide cases of COVID. “These continued arbitrary rules, including 11 p.m. curfews, are unfair to restaurant owners,” said Councilman Lou Imbroto. “We are urging New York State to fully eliminate these restrictions as these businesses have been through enough. The restaurant industry has already proven they can do what’s necessary to maintain safety protocols and keep customers and employees safe. Let’s let them get back to work.”
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The COVID-19 pandemic has changed so many aspects of our daily lives, including the way education is now viewed in today’s society. The Hicksville School District has updated its curriculum to better gel with the current state of learning in our schools. “Due to COVID, we needed to rethink the way we educate students today and pivot away from the old methods of learning,” said Anthony Lubrano, assistant superintendent for curriculum & instruction. “It’s been over a year since the pandemic has uprooted our lives and, in that time, we’ve accomplished so many things here in the district.” He said that both in-person and homeschool instruction and the hybrid model have been altered to help facilitate a better learning environment for students. In a portal on the Hicksville School district website entitled "Learning Reimagined,” it lists the multitude of ways that school instruction has been changed since March of last year. “We have so many new and redesigned aspects in our learning curriculum from academics, physical education and special education to our facilities and operations,” said Lubrano. Some of the changes include the district partnering with the Hicksville Library to develop eCards for students so they can readily access eBooks and other available software online. As part of district safety protocol, mandatory wearing of masks in the district has been upgraded with the addition of flute masks and bell covers for students who play wind instruments in band. Lubrano said that physical education teachers have been strongly encouraged to hold outdoor classes “because we want to embrace the outdoors and fresh air as much as possible.” In the first wave of the pandemic last April, school buses in the district delivered over 800 Chromebooks and iPad devices to students, who were subjected to remote learning after schools closed in the spring. “We recently recognized our one-year anniversary since we shut down last spring,” said Lubrano. “We’ve recently invited students back who’ve been learning remotely and made sure that all accommodations are in place such as mask wearing and six feet of social distancing.” He added that elementary schools in the district still have teachers on staff solely dedicated to students who are engaged in remote learning.
Running club helps local food pantry PAGE 4 District honors members of community PAGE 6